EUNAN O’Kane feels a long way from a Republic of Ireland call-up but remains determined to aid his international cause by catching the eye for Cherries.

The 24-year-old was put on stand-by for friendlies against Latvia and Poland in November last year when the senior squad was picked by under-21 boss Noel King.

However, O’Kane has not featured in subsequent selections by Martin O’Neill and will be a spectator when the Boys in Green meet Gibraltar and Germany in Euro 2016 qualifiers on Saturday and Tuesday respectively.

Capped at under-21 level by both the Republic and Northern Ireland, the Cherries anchorman knows he faces a significant challenge to make the senior cut.

O’Kane told the Daily Echo: “I’m not anywhere near the stage where I’m waiting for a phone call. For me it’s about trying to get in the Bournemouth team and staying there. Then, hopefully, the international honours will come.

“It was nice to be round the edge of it and for people to have said at one stage that I possibly deserved a call-up.

“But from my own point of view there are a lot of players in the squad who play in the Premier League and have done for a while now. I imagine that if they are playing for their clubs, they are going to be in the squad.

“For me, I want to get to those levels. I want to play in the Premier League and play for Ireland and, hopefully, it will come to a stage where I can say, ‘I don’t understand why I’m not involved’.”

O’Kane’s main priority is to regain his place in Eddie Howe’s starting XI in time for Cherries’ return to Championship action against Charlton a week on Saturday.

Omitted from Howe’s squad for the 2-1 win at Bolton, the ex-Everton youngster knows regular club football will enhance his international hopes.

He continued: “If I’m playing at Bournemouth then I won’t be doing myself any harm in terms of international prospects.

“If we climb the league table, people will start to take notice of a lot of the boys – not just me – who have ambitions to play for their country.”